This Feb. 25, 2014 file photo shows the demolition of four wastewater storage tanks at Ridgeline Energy Services at the Santa Fe Springs, Calif. The tanks at the former Powerine Oil Company site have been the source of foul odors affecting local neighborhoods. (Staff photo by Leo Jarzomb/Whittier Daily News)

DIAMOND BAR >> After missing a June 15 deadline to install air pollution equipment, a Santa Fe Springs company, which was the source of several foul-smelling odor discharge incidents in 2013, is still restricted from accepting new wastewater for treatment.

Wastewater in tanks on the Ridgeline Energy Services property at the former Powerine Oil Co. refinery, 12345 Lakeland Road, Santa Fe Springs, was the source of the odor incidents. Ridgeline has been unable to bring in new wastewater — the only source of revenue for the plant — since May 1 when the Hearing Board for the South Coast Air Quality Management District refused to extend deadlines that Ridgeline hadn’t met and banned it from accepting new product.

The board on June 3 gave Ridgeline an opportunity to install the equipment and would allow it to accept new water for 31 days, beginning June 15.

But on Thursday, David Holtzman, a member of the Hearing Board, said the order set June 15 as the deadline.

That stopped the hearing, with both and Albert Cohen, Ridgeline attorney, saying there was nothing more to discuss.

Holtzman was answering a question from Karin Manwaring, attorney for AQMD, who had called for Thursday’s hearing because she was uncertain what the June 3 order meant.

Manwaring said she wanted to know whether June 15 was the deadline for installation of the equipment or could the company still install the equipment and begin accepting wastewater.

Cohen said the company had problems in meeting the deadlines to discharge sludge and water that was stored during 2013 in tanks. Some of tanks at the property had holes which allowed the smell of sulfur escape into the air.

The company has been unable to meet requirements of the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County to allow water to go into the sewer system.

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Holtzman, who made the motion on June 3, said he was trying to give Ridgeline an incentive to move faster in removing the wastewater and demolish the tanks.

Manwaring said she also asked for the hearing because she’s concerned that Ridgeline didn’t appear to be working hard to install the equipment and doesn’t care about removing the water and the tanks.

Cohen said Ridgeline still is committed to cleaning up the site.

“I very much resent the allegation that Ridgeline is not trying to comply,” he said. “They are draining (the tanks) as fast as they can.

Cohen said Ridgeline is making progress. It recently discharged 400,000 gallons from a tank, he added.

“The reason it takes so much time is that it takes four to five passes through the treatment system,” he said referring to the water.